Dr. Zhuangnan Li

Dr. Zhuangnan Li is a materials scientist and engineer who spent years researching advanced battery chemistries within the Chhowalla Group at the University of Cambridge. Working alongside Dr. Ismail Sami under Professor Manish Chhowalla, he contributed to the foundational discovery that metallic molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) could function as a stable cathode additive in lithium-sulfur batteries — a finding that unlocked a viable path to commercialisation after decades of stalled attempts.

In 2024, Zhuangnan co-founded Molyon as CTO, taking responsibility for the company's technical roadmap and materials development. His deep expertise in battery electrochemistry and materials engineering underpins Molyon's proprietary cathode technology, which the team has patented and demonstrated at energy densities of 500 Wh/kg — more than double that of standard lithium-ion batteries. The technology uses earth-abundant sulfur and molybdenum, reducing reliance on the critical minerals that create supply chain vulnerabilities in conventional batteries.

Molyon raised $4.6 million in its first funding round in November 2024, co-led by IQ Capital and Plural, to scale production at a Cambridge pilot facility. The company is initially targeting weight-critical applications such as drones and robots before expanding into electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage.